Berberis capillaris

Ahrendt.

gbif· cc0

President and Fellows of Harvard College

Summary

A deciduous shrub reaching 1 m tall with hermaphroditic flowers pollinated by insects. It blooms in May and is self-fertile. Hardy to UK zone 8. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils, including nutritionally poor conditions. Grows in mildly acid to basic soils and adapts to semi-shade or full sun. Prefers dry or moist soil.

Description

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Edible Uses: The following report is for the closely related B. angulosa - it quite possibly can also be applied to this species. The fruit of this species is said to be somewhat larger than that of B. angulosa, with fruits up to the size of a cherry. Fruit - raw or cooked. The relatively large berries are freely borne and are more palatable than most barberries. The fruit is about 15mm long and 8mm wide.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten raw or cooked.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Antibacterial Cancer Dysentery Berberine, universally present in rhizomes of Berberis species, has marked antibacterial effects. Since it is not appreciably absorbed by the body, it is used orally in the treatment of various enteric infections, especially bacterial dysentery. It should not be used with Glycyrrhiza species (Liquorice) because this nullifies the effects of the berberine. Berberine has also shown antitumour activity.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It will grow on a range of soils but does best on warm moist loamy soils. It can stand frosts.

Where It Grows

Asia, China, Indochina, Myanmar, SE Asia,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed. Stored seed may need treatment to get them to grow. Seedlings can be transplanted. Plants can also be grown from cuttings or by layering. Plants can be pruned back heavily and will re-grow.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, when it should germinate in late winter or early spring. Seed from over-ripe fruit will take longer to germinate, whilst stored seed may require cold stratification and should be sown in a cold frame as early in the year as possible. The seedlings are subject to damping off, so should be kept well ventilated. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame. If growth is sufficient, it can be possible to plant them out into their permanent positions in the autumn, but generally it is best to leave them in the cold frame for the winter and plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, preferably with a heel, October/November in a frame. Layering.